Machine for handling sheets of material, labels, and the like



Feb. 16, 1937. w, FLElscHER 2,071,115

MACHINE FOR HANDLING SHEETS OF MATERIAL, LABELS, AND THE LIKE FiledMarch 19, 1935 I INVENTOR. P401. 144/ 1 5/50/47? ATTORNEYS feeding meansfor transfer to another Till Patented Feb. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICEMACHINE FOR HANDLING SHEETS OF MATERIAL, LABELS, AND THE LIKE Paul W.Fleischer, Weehawken, N. .L,

' New Jersey Machine Corporation,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey assignor to Hoboken,

Application March 19, 1935, Serial No. 11,113

12 Claims.

The invention'relates to machines for handling sheets of material suchas paper sheets, labels and the like and more particularly to machinesof the indicated type in which the sheets, labels or the like areindividually removed in succession from a supply stack and conveyed to apoint such as for instance, suitable mechanisms adapted to performpredetermined operations on said sheets, labels or the like. Theinvention contemplates particularly the improvement of the constructic-nand operation of the means for separating and removing the sheets,labels or the like from the supply stack in individual succession, andthe provision of a simple mechanism for efiiciently performing suchfunctions in operative association with an improved and eflicient meansfor maintaining the upper'end of the supply stack within certainpredetermined levels relatively to said mechanism. Other more specificobjects will appear'from the description hereinafter and the features ofnovelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an example of the machinewithout defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevationof a machine embodying the novel devices; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary planview, partly.

in section, showing in detail certain" features of said novel devices,and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 may be considered as part of a gummingmachine for the purpose of exemplifying the type of machines for whichthe novel arrangements are particularly adapted, it being understood,however, that this illustrated example is not intended to define thelimits of the instant invention.

With this in mind the machine illustrated in the drawing comprisesavertically movable table ill adapted to support a supply stack ll ofsheets, labels or the like preferably arranged between upright guidesl2, at least one of which may be adjustable toward and away from theother guide 12 to accommodate sheets, labels or the like of varyingdimensions. The support or table III is carried by a verticallyextending elevating bar l3 adapted to be automatically shifted upward atproper times in operative association with co-opcrating parts of themachine to maintain the upper end of the supply stack ll within certainpredetermined levels relatively to the sheet separating and removingmeans. v

To exemplify this arrangement the elevating bar 13, in the illustratedexample, is provided (01." TIL-62) with a vertical rack ll arranged inmesh with a pinion I I5 fixed upon a shaft l6 join-nailed for instance,in a housing I! suitably mounted in the machine of which it forms apart.The shaft It further carries a one-way ratchet wheel [8 adapted to berotatably actiiated intermittently by means of a pawl l9, as will bemore fully set forth hereinafter, any suitable means such as aconventional stop-pawl being providediif necessary, to preventunintentional return movement of said ratchet wheel la; in thearrangement shown in Fig. 1, the pawl I9 is pivotally secured at 20 uponthe one end of a rocking lever 21 loosely mounted upon the shaft l8. Atits opposite end the lever 2| carries a projection which is illustratedin the form of a plate 22 fixed in place in any convenient manner asclearly shown in Fig. l; the purpose of the plate 22 or its equivalentand the operation of the mechanism so far described will be set forthmore fully hereinafter. To insure a proper return of the lever 2| to itsnormal position, a spring 2|- may be provided for instance asillustrated in Fig.1. For the purpose of establishing said normalposition, the lever 2| may be provided with a depending lug 2 I whichcarries an adjustable projection in the form of a screw 2l; the lattermay be fixed in an adjusted position by a lock nut 2 I and is adapted toengage a fixed stop H! on the housing l1 to thereby arrest the pivotalmovement of the lever 2| in one direction.

In the illustrated example. the transfer means for removing the upperterminal sheets, labels or the like from the supply stack I l, inindividual succession, consists of a suction head 23 of suitable typeconnected, for instance, by means of a flexible tube 24 with aconvenient source of suction; any conventional means may be provided forcontrolling the suction in the head 23 in proper operative timing withthe associated elements of the machine. The suction head 23 as shown,may be carried by an arm 2Q fixed upon a rock-shaft 26 arranged to beoperatively rocked in proper timing for instance, by cans of a lug 21and link 28 operatively combined with a suitable cam or equivalent meansin any conventional manner to effect the desired results.

In addition to being rocked the shaft 2t is adapted to be raised andlowered to properly 'manipulate the suction head 23 in the operation ofremoving successive sheets, labels or the like from the stack II, andsaid shaft 26 accordingly is journalled in members 29 asillustrated inFig. 1; while only one member 29 is shown in the drawing, it will beunderstood that at least two such and their co-operating actuating meansare included in the machine. The members 29 in the illustrated example,are provided with forked lower ends 30 which straddle a cam shaft 3|suitably journalled in the machine, and further carry rollers 32 whichproject into the cam grooves 33 v of cams 34 fixed upon the cam shaft 3I: the properly designed cam grooves 33 by acting on the rollers 32bring about the vertical movements of the members 29 and shaft 26 whichare required in the operation of the suction head 23.

In the illustrated machine the sheets, labels or the like are carriedfrom the stack over an inclined feed plate 35 suitably supported in themachine, and delivered, by the suction head 23 to co-operating feedrolls 36 and 3! rotatably mounted in the machine in any conventionalmanner. For purposes of illustration, the feed rolls 36 and 31 are shownin proximity to a guide plate 38 whereby the sheets, labels or the likebeing fed by the feed rolls 36 and 31 are guided into surface engagementwith a roll 39 located in approximately surface engagement with aco-operating roll 40;.the rolls 39 and 40 -may, for instance, exemplifythe gumming and adhesive transferring rolls respectively of aconventional gumming machine and may be journalled in the machine in anycustomary manner.

As the sheets, labels or the like are successively removed, by thesuction head 23, from the stack II, the height of the latter willgradually decrease andthe level of the upper end thereof will becomeprogressively lower; it accordingly becomes necessary to periodicallyelevate the table In in order to maintain the upper terminal sheet,label or the like of the stack H in proper position for engagement andremoval by the suction head 23.

In the illustrated example the means whereby the periodic elevation ofthe table II) is automatically controlled includes a control member 4|provided with a conduit for an air blast for the purpose to be morefully described hereinafter. The control member 4|, in the illustratedexample, is constructed in the form of a nozzle or tube suitably shapedas shown in Fig. 1 and fixed upon a rock-shaft 42 illustrated in detailin Figs. 2 and 3; as shown in Fig. 1 the control member 4| is arrangedto contact the terminal sheet, label or 50 the like of the stack withinthe surface area thereof at a point adjacent to an edge of said terminalsheet, label or the like in the path of the upward movements of saidstack The rock-shaft 42 at one end is journalled in any 55 convenientmanner in the machine and at its other end is rotatably mounted in astationary bearing 43 provided with an aperture or air-inlet 44 adaptedto register with a corresponding aperture 45 in the shaft 42; the latteris formed with 50 an internal axial chamber 46 with which the aperture45 is in communication and which itself is in open communication withthe index member 4|.

While the illustrated example shows only one control member 4|, aplurality of such members may 65 be included in the machine, ifnecessary or desirable; in such case, all of said control members 4|will be mounted on the shaft 42 in open communication with the chamber46 thereof. The aperture or air-inlet 44 of the bearing 43 is con- 7nected with a suitable source of air under pressure in any convenientmanner, and accordingly, as shown, may be formed in a boss 41constituting part of the bearing 43 and adapted to receive one end of atube 48 which leads to the aforesaid source 75 of air under pressure;the latter may comprise a Cal I r 2,071, 1 15 members in spaced opposedrelation to each other blower or air pump or any other customary device.With the arrangement set forth the control member 4|, in addition tofunctioning as a device for controlling the automatic periodic elevationof the table l6 and stack II as will be explained more fullyhereinafter, constitutes means for discharging a stream of air toprevent the dragging of the terminal sheet, label or the like during itsremoval from the 'stack II and for assisting the removal of suchterminal sheet, label or the like without disturbing the remaininguppermost sheets of said stack as will also be more clearly set forthhereinafter.

The rocking of the shaft 42 in proper timed relation with the associatedelements of the machine may be eflected in any suitable manner, as forinstance, by means of an arm 49 fixed on said shaft 42 and connectedthrough the medium of a rod 50 or the like with one member of abell-crank leve'r 5|; the latter is suitably pivoted at 52 in themachine and has its other arm provided with a roller 53 adapted to rideupon the periphery of the cam 34, a spring 54 being associated with saidlever 5| for maintaining said roller 53 in contact with the periphery ofsaid cam 34 if necessary. As shown in Fig. l, the cam 34 is formed witha throw section 55 adapted to swing the index member 4| away from thetop of the stack II at the proper predetermined intervals; the majorperipheral portion 56 of the cam 34 permits the control member 4| torest upon the top sheet, label or the like of the stack under normalconditions while the peripheral low section 51 of said cam 34 permitssaid control member 4| to swing downwardly when the top of the stackdrops below a predetermined level, to automatically bring about anelevation of the table l0 and the stack H." To eifect this result at theproper time. and in the intended manner, the bell-crank lever 5| carriesa pin 58 which projects into an elongated slot 59 formed in a link 60near the one end thereof, said pin 58 and slot 59 exemplifying a lostmotion connection between the actuating means for operating the controlmember 4| and the means for periodically actuating the stack elevatingmechanism, or specifically between the bell-crank lever 5| and the link60; the opposite end of said link 60 is pivotally connected with anoperating member 6| loosely mounted on the shaft 42 and forming anintegral part of or being connected with a depending lever62. At itslower end the latter is provided with a projection preferably in theform of an adjustable screw 63 and in any case located in registry witha bar 65 having its lower end cut away to provide a shoulder 66 asillustrated in Fig. 1. The bar 65 depends from and is pivotallyconnected at 61 with an arm 68 projecting from one of the members 29,said bar 65 by the action of the projection 63 being adapted to be swungfrom its normal position to the left in Fig. 1 to bring the shoulder 66into registry with the plate 22 or equivalent projection carried by therocking lever 2| to thereby bring about an elevation of the table In andstack in the manner to be more fully described hereinafter; the arm 68is so dimensioned and the pivot 61 is so located that the bar 65, whenfree/to do so, will automatically assume a depending position in' whichthe shoulder 66 is out of registry with the plate 22 or its equivalent.

In the operation of the illustrated machine, the suction head 23 isactuated through the medium of the cam groove 33, rollers.32 and members29, and by means of the lug 21, link 28 and associated mechanism, tosuccessively pickup the uppermost sheet, label or the like from thestack H and deliver it to the feed rolls 36 and 31 by which said sheet,label or the like is transferred to the gumming roll 39 or itsequivalent dependent upon the type of machine in which the mechanism isincorporated; it will be understood that, in the aforesaid operation ofthe suction head 23, the suction therein is automatically controlled insuch a manner that the uppermost sheet, label or the like will be pickedup and released in proper operative co-ordination with the co-operatingelements of the machine. During its transfer from the stack H to thefeed rolls 36 and 31 by the suction head 23, the uppermost sheet, labelor the like of the stack ll assumes a position indicated approximatelyat a in Fig. 1 in which the control member or nozzle '4 I is locatedbelow the said sheet, label or the like a. It will be understood thatthe air blast referred to hereinafter is not on at the nozzle 4i whilethe roller 53 is on the portion 56 of the cam 34.

Because of the rotation of the cam 34 during these operations, theroller 53 passes from the portion 56 of the cam 34 to the throw section55 thereof and. the latter by acting upon the roller 53 and itsassociated elements will, at the predetermined moment in the operativesequence, rock the shaft 42 on its axis and thereby swing the controlmember or nozzle 4! in a direction away from the top of the supply stackH, or upwardly and in an arc to the left in Fig. 1 from'the positionillustrated in Fig. 1 to a point outside of the surface area of theterminal sheet of the stack ii, that is to a position out of the path ofmovement of the uppermost sheet, label or the like as it is raised bythe suction head 23. The aforesaid rotation of said shaft 42 will at thesame time bring its aperture 45 into registry with the aperture orair-inlet 44 and thereby open the connection between the. control memberor nozzle 4! and the sourceof air under pressure with which the tube 48is connected. As a resultof this, a stream of air or air blast willissue from the control member 4| and be discharged beneath the sheet,label or the like a being removed from the stack II; this stream of airwill exert a lifting action on the aforesaid sheet, label or the like asufiicient to completely free the latter and prevent it from developinga drag upon the next succeeding sheet, label or the like of the stackii. As soon as the throw section of the cam 34 haspassed by the roller53, the latter will drop therefrom to thereby rotate the shaft 42 in areverse direction to shift the aperture 45 out of registry with theaperture 44 and cut off the supply of pressure air to the control memberor nozzle 4!, and at the same time to swing the latter back into contactwith the top of the stack Ii.

During these operative steps the pin 58 of the bell-crank lever 5! willmove in the slot 59 without actuating the link in a manner to produceany-operative effect, and the bar 55 will partake of the verticalmovements of the member 29, the shoulder 86 being out of registry withthe plate 22 or its equivalent and having no operative effect thereon.When,.however, because of the successive removal of a sufficient numberof sheets, labels r the like therefrom, the height of the stack II isrecurrently reduced sufiiciently to bring the top thereof below apredetermined level, the roller 53 will drop from the throw section 55of the cam 34 into engagement with the low section 51 thereof, therebycausing the bell-crank lever 5| to develop an abnormal movement on itspivot 52.

This abnormal pivotal movement will besuflicient to cause the pin 58 ofsaid bell-crank lever 5| to engage the lower end of the slot 59 andexert a downward pull upon the link 60 which will be transmitted to theoperating member SI and rock the same on the shaft 42 to thereby swingthe depending lever 62 toward the left in Fig. 1; the projection orscrew 530i said lever 62 will accordingly engage the bar andcorrespondingly swing the latter toward the left to bring its shoulder66 into the path of the plate or its equivalent 22. As the. member 29now moves downwardly carrying the bar 65 with it, the shoulder 66 willpress downwardly upon the plate, 22 or its equivalent and thus willcause the lever 2| to be rocked on its pivot I6; this rocking of saidlever 2| will cause the pawl iii to rotate the ratchet wheel l8 and itsassociated pinion i5 in a direction to raise the rack I4 so that theelevating bar i3 and with it the table It and stack I I will becorrespondingly elevated. In this way the top of the stack II willautomatically be again restored to a predetermined level for properco-operation with the suction head 23 and'other associated elements. Assoon as this elevation has taken place or when the roller 53 passes fromthe low section 51 of the cam 34 to the major portion 56 thereof, thepin 53 by engagement with the upper end of the'slot 59 will shift thelink 60 upwardly and thus rock the operating member 64 and dependinglever 62 in a direction to move the projection or screw 63 out ofcontact with the bar 65 back to the position shown in Fig. 1; the bar 65being thus free to do so will automatically swing back to its normalposition as soon as the member 29 again moves upwardly, and accordinglywill shift the shoulder out of registry with the plate 22 or itsequivalent. At this stage the spring 2 i will rock the lever 2| in areverse direction back to'the position shown in Fig. 1, the pawl 19simply riding over the teeth of the ratchet wheel I8 in a returnmovement to a new position ready for the next operation for againraising the table ill and and may be incorporated in any machine inwhich elements exemplified by sheets, labels orv the like are tobe'individuallyremoved in succession from a supply stack and deliveredto associated elements or co-operating mechanisms.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be madewithin the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a machine including a support for a sup- 7 5 ply stack of sheets,labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets,'labels orthe like from said stack in individual succession, and elevatingmechanism for raising said stack support, that improvement whichcomprises a stationary bearing having an air inlet in connection with asource of air under pressure, a rockshaft journalled in said bearing andhaving an internal air chamber provided with an aperture normally out ofregistry with said air inlet, a control member on said rock-shaftarranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack and.v

constituting an air nozzle in open communication with the air chamber ofsaid rock-shaft, actuating means operated in timed relationship with thetransfer means for operating said rock-shaft to swing said controlmember in a direction away from the top of said supply stack and toshift said' aperture into registry with said air inlet whereby a streamof air is discharged through said control member beneath the sheet,label or the like being removed from said supply stack, and'meansperiodically operated by said actuating means at intervals predeterminedby the recurrent reductions in the height of the supply stack to actuatesaid elevating mechanism whereby the top of said supply stack isrestored to operative relationship with said transfer means.

2. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labelsor the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels or the likefrom said stack in individual succession, and elevating mechanism forraising said stack support, that improvement which comprises arock-shaft having an internal air chamber, a control member on saidrock-shaft arranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack andconstituting an air nozzle in communication with the air chamber of saidrock-shaft, actuating means operated in timed relationship with thetransfer means for operating said rock-shaft to swing said controlmember in a direction away from the top of said supply stack and forco-incidentally connecting the air chamber of the rock-shaft with asource of air under pressure whereby a stream of air is dischargedthrough said control member beneath the sheet, label or the like beingremoved from said supply stack, and means periodically operated by saidactuating means at intervals predetermined by the recurrent reductionsin the height of said supply stack to actuate said elevating mechanismwhereby the top of said supply stack is restored to operativerelationship with said transfer means.

3. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labelsor the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, label or the likefrom said stack in individual succession, and elvating mechanism forraising said stack support, that improvement which comprises a movablecontrol member arranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack andconstituting an air nozzle, actuating means operated in timedrelationship with the transfer means for moving said control member in adirection away from the top of said supply stack and for coincidentallyconnecting said control member with a source of air under pressurewhereby a stream of air is discharged through said control memberbeneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from said supplystack, and means periodically operated by said actuating means atintervals predetermined by the recurrent reductions in the height ofsaid supply stack to actuate said elevating mechanism whereby the top ofthe supply stack is restored to operative relationship wit said transfermeans.

4. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labelsor the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels or the likefrom said stack in individual succession, and elevating mechanism forraising said stack support, that improvement which comprises astationary bearing having an air inlet in connection with a source ofair under pressure, a rock-shaft journalled in said bearing and havingan internal air chamber provided with an aperture normally out ofregistry with said air inlet, a control member on said rock-shaftarranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack and constitutingan air nozzle in open communication with the air chamber of saidrockshaft, actuating means operated in timed relationship with thetransfer means for operating said rock-shaft to swing said controlmember in a direction away from the top of said supply stack and toshift said aperture into registry with said air inlet whereby a streamof air is discharged through said control member beneath the sheet,label or the like being removed from said supply stack, a movable baroperatively associated with said transfer means and located normally ininoperative relation to said elevating mechanism, an operating memberloosely mounted on said rock-shaft, a depending lever movable with saidoperating member, a link connected at one end with said operating memberand provided at its opposite end with an elongated slot, and a pinassociated with said actuating means and extending into said slot, saidpin, by periodic engagement with the lower end of said slotpredetermined by the recurrent reductions in the height of said supplystack, pivotally actuating said operating member to cause said dependinglever to shift said bar into operative relation to said elevatingmechanism whereby the latter is operated to restore the top of saidsupply stack to operative relationship with said transfer means.

5. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labelsor the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels or the likefrom said stack in individual succession, and elevating mechanism forraising said stack support, that improvement which comprises arock-shaft having an internal air chamber, a control member on saidrock-shaft arranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack andconstituting an air nozzle in communication with the air chamber of saidrock-shaft, actuating means operated in timed relationship with thetransfer means for operating said rock-shaft to swing said controlmember in a direction away from the top of said supply stack and forcoincidentally connecting the air chamber of the rock-shaft with asource of an under pressure whereby a stream of air is dischargedthrough said control member beneath the sheet, label or the like beingremoved from said supply stack, a movable bar operatively associatedwith said transfer means and located normally in inoperative relation tosaid elevating mechanism, an operating member loosely mounted on saidrock-shaft, a lever movable with said operating member, a link connectedat one end with operating member and provided at its other end with anelongated slot, and a pin associated with said actuating means andextending into said slot, said pin, by periodic engagement with thelower end of said slot predetermined by the recurrent reductions. in theheight of said supply stack, pivotally actuating said operating memberto cause said depending lever to shift said bar into operative relationto said elevating mechanism whereby the latter is operated to restorethe top of said supply stack to operative relation with said transfermeans.

'6. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets,labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels orthe like from said stack in individual succession, and elevatingmechanism for raising said stack support, that improvement whichcomprises a movable control member arranged to engage the upper end ofsaid supply stack and constituting an air nozzle, actuatingmeansoperated in timed relationship with the transfer means for movingsaid control memher in a direction away from the top of said supplystack and for coincidentally connecting said control member with asource of air under pressure whereby ablast of air is discharged throughsaid control member beneath the sheet, label or the like being removedfrom said supply stack. normally inactive means controlling theoperation of said elevating mechanism, and a link connected with saidnormally inactive means and having a lost motion connection with saidactuating means whereby said normally inactive means is periodicallyactuated at intervals predetermined P by the recurrent reductions in theheight of said supply stack to operate said elevating mechanism andrestore the top of the supply stack to operative relationship with saidtransfer means.

' '7. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets,labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels orthe like from said stack in individual succession, and elevatingmechanism for raising said stack support, that improvement whichcomprises a combined control and air discharge means, a compressed airsupply conduit, mechanism for operating said combined control and airdischarge means in timed relationship with said transfer means toperiodically connect said combined control and air discharge means withsaid compressed air supply conduit to thereby discharge a blast of airbeneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from, said supplystack, and means periodically operated by said mechanism at intervalspredetermined by the recurrent reductions in the height of the supplystack to actuate said elevating mechanism and restore the top of saidsupply stack to operative relationship withsaid transfer means.

8. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labelsor the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels or the likefrom said stack in individual succession,'and elevating mechanism forraising said stack. support, that improvement which comprises a combinedcontrol and air discharge means, a compressed air supply conduit, andco-operating means for operating said combined control and air dischargemeans to periodically connect said 'combined control and air dischargemeans with said compressed air supply conduit to thereby discharge ablast of air beneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from thesupply stack and for actuating the elevating mechanism at intervalspredetermined by recurrent reductions in the height of said supply stackto restore the top of thelatter to operative relationship with saidtransfer means.

9. In a mechanism for periodically elevating a progressively decreasingstack of sheets, labels or the like, the combination of a compressed airsupply conduit, an elevating control member cooperating with saidprogressively decreasing stack to maintain the upper end thereof at apredetermined level and provided with a conduit for t an air blastadapted to facilitate removal of terminalsheets, labels or the like fromsaid stack, and a valve controlling said compressed air supply conduitand operated by said elevating control member to periodically connectits conduit with said compressed air supply conduit.

10. In a mechanism for elevating a progressively decreasing stack ofsheets, labels or the like, an elevating control member co-operatingwith said progressively decreasing stack to maintaln the upper endthereof at a predetermined level and provided with a conduit for an airblast, means for operating said control member, and means operated bysaid control member for controlling an air blast through said conduit intimed relation-to the movements of said control member to prevent aterminal sheet being removed from the stack from developing drag on thenext succeeding sheet thereof.

11. In a mechanism for elevating a vertical stack of sheets, labels orthe like to compensate for' reductions in the height of said stackbecause of the-removal of upper terminal sheets therefrom, thecombination of means operative at the forward edge of a terminal sheetof said stack for removing said terminal sheet therefrom, a controlmember adapted to contact the upper terminal sheet, label or the likewithin the surface area thereof at a point adjacent to said forward edgeof said terminal sheet, labelor the like in the path of upward movementof said stack, said control member in co-operation with theprogressively decreasing stack controlling the elevating mechanism toperiodically restore the upper end of said stack to a predeterminedlevel, and means for vertically moving said control member outside ofthe surface area of said terminal sheet, label or the like to preventinterference with the removal of upper terminal sheets, labels or thelike from said stack.

12. In a mechanism for elevating a vertical stack of sheets, labels orthe like to compensate for reductions in the height of said stackbecause of the removal of upper terminal sheets there- -a point adjacentto an edge of said terminal sheet,

label or the like in the path of upward movement of said stack, saidcontrol member in co-operation with the progressively decreasing stackcontrollingthe elevating mechanism to periodically restore the upper endof said stack to a predetermined level and being provided with a conduitfor an air blast, and means for moving said control member outside ofthe surface area of said terminal sheet, label or the like to preventinterference with the removal of upper terminal sheets, labels or thelike from said stack and coincidentally connecting the conduit of saidcontrol member with a source. of air under pressure to project a blastof air beneath a terminal sheet, label or the like being removed fromsaid stack to facilitate said removal.

v PAUL W. FLEISCHER.

